VETERANS COLUMN, NEWS

Veterans Profile, Photo: U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez, from Chicago, lifts a saltwater pump in the steam and heat shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 20, 2019. The John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of …

Veterans News and Notes: Havers to head Pritzker Museum By Jerry Field Dr. Rob Havers became President & CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in February 2019. He came to his post from his previous position as President of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia. He previously served as Executive Director …

Pritzker names Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head Veterans Affairs Governor JB Pritzker announced a new appointment to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, nominating Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head the agency. “The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs has faced numerous challenges, and it’s a priority for my administration to ensure that our …

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Marriott Lincolnshire hosts Million Dollar Quartet Marriott Lincolnshire KICKS OFF THE 2019 SEASON WITH THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL A twist of fate. An epic jam session. An electrifying musical. There’s a whole lot of shakin’...

African American History Month February The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join...

Schadenfreude returns for new show Feb. 22 in Chicago I’m super pumped to announce that Schadenfreude is coming back together on February 22nd for a new show! It’s at The Hideout, 7pm. We are celebrating...

Rochelle Distelheim Max & Bennie’s Author Night Feb. 25 Rochelle Distelheim’s first novel, “Sadie in Love,” is set in New York’s Lower East Side during the great wave of Eastern European Jewish immigration in the...

Consolidated Primary Election Feb. 26 Illinois will hold its consolidated Primary Election on February 26, 2019. Candidates running under the banner of established parties (Republican, Democrats, etc) will run in this election to win their...

Orland Trustee hosts self-defense program for women Orland Park Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich will co-host with One Light Self-Defense a free self-defense workshop for women and girls. The program is free and will address “self-defense,...

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BOB BONG ON BUSINESS

Bob Bong on Business: First Midwest Buys Bridgeview Bank Bridgeview Bank sells to First Midwest Community bank deal valued at $145 million By Bob Bong Bridgeview Bank, a community bank founded in Bridgeview in 1971 and … Click to read more

Bob Bong on Business: Gas N Wash to open second Mokena location By Bob Bong Mokena-based Gas n Wash has announced it will open a second location in Mokena at 6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. … Click to read more

STATEWIDE NEWS

Pritzker names Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head Veterans Affairs Governor JB Pritzker announced a new appointment to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, nominating Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head the agency. “The …

BRIEFS

Sandoval, Schillerstrom, Gorman announce new jobs coming to Illinois Access to training, apprenticeships and careers within skilled construction trades offered through the Tollway’s new ConstructionWorks program Earlier this week, Senator Sandoval was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Representative Marcus Evans, Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and Executive Director Liz Gorman to …

Morrison helps save Des Plaines based clothing store

Morrison helps save Des Plaines based clothing store

Commissioner Morrison’s efforts help keep131 year old Hart Schaffner Marx suit company from leaving Illinois — Saving over 300 manufacturing jobs in Cook County

Hart Schaffner Marx suit company has been manufacturing men’s suits in the Chicago area since 1887, including a suit for President Obama when he accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in Denver in 2008.

The Des Plaines based company which was facing an end to their current lease in mid-2018 had the difficult task of finding a new and economically viable location in the Chicago area or cease operations and relocate to Ohio.

Hart Schaffner Marx which has been located in Des Plaines (1700 E. Touhy Ave.) for more than 50 years, will now move to a new location in Des Plaines (901 W. Oakton St.) with operations starting in fall 2018.

This relocation would not have been possible without the assistance of a Class 6b tax incentive supported by Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison and the city of Des Plaines, and approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners at their July 25 board meeting.

“Without the determined efforts of Commissioner Sean Morrison to assist Hart Schaffner Marx with obtaining a much needed economic tax incentive, it would not have been possible for our company to secure a new location and remain in Des Plaines. Relocating outside of Illinois was a real likelihood for us. Hart Schaffner Marx has a long and rich history of producing high quality men’s suits in the Chicago area since 1887 and we look forward to carrying on this tradition for years to come right here in Des Plaines,” stated Kenneth Ragland, COO/CFO for Hart Schaffner Marx, a W Diamond Group Corporation.

Hart Schaffner Marx will bring 350 jobs to their new location with a target date of October 2018 to have the new manufacturing facility up and operational. With one-third less square footage than its existing plant, the new facility will create a more modernized production line footprint which will greatly improve production efficiencies for the company.

“It’s essential for us to continue to work hard to improve economic conditions for businesses to grow and thrive in Cook County, especially for our manufacturing base which provides good paying jobs for many families. That’s why it’s so critical that we do everything we can to keep manufacturers like Hart Schaffner Marx right here in Cook County. I’m proud to have been able to assist them in their efforts to secure a new location in Des Plaines with the help of an economic tax incentive which will allow them to streamline their operations and remain competitive in the global marketplace while remaining in Cook County and preserving hundreds of jobs for our residents,” added Commissioner Morrison.

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I write about three topics, the Middle East, politics and life in general. I often take my life experiences and offer them in an entertaining way to readers, and I take on the toughest topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict and don't pull any punches about what I feel is fair. But, my priority is always about writing the good story."

His columns are archived here. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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